Rep. Mike Levin

Maddy summaryHR 5155 creates a new temporary visitor visa category specifically for family visits to the U.S. It directly affects U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents wanting to host relatives for short stays, and their eligible relatives (including parents, children, siblings, and extended family). The bill requires visitors to have a financial sponsor, short-term medical insurance covering U.S. expenses, and proof of intent to leave within 90 days per year - reducing the previous 180-day limit. It explicitly states this visa does not count as immigrant status, and applicants who previously overstayed a similar visa face additional restrictions unless extraordinary circumstances apply.

Maddy summaryThe INSPECT Act requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to assign a resident inspector to every permanently closed commercial nuclear power plant. The inspector monitors decommissioning work and the transfer of spent nuclear fuel from storage pools to dry storage facilities. The assignment lasts only for the duration of the fuel transfer process, ending once all fuel has been moved. If a plant has no active decommissioning or fuel transfer work, the NRC may reassign the inspector to other duties. This directly affects decommissioning nuclear plants and aims to ensure safety during fuel handling.

Maddy summaryThe Ethics in Energy Act of 2023 prohibits large energy companies (including major electric utilities and natural gas providers) from charging customers for political influence spending. It requires these "covered utilities" to stop recovering expenses like lobbying, campaign contributions, or PR campaigns aimed at shaping regulations or elections from customer rates. Utilities must submit detailed annual reports on such spending to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and FERC can impose penalties (up to triple the amount recovered) that must be refunded to customers. Penalties are split: half goes to ratepayers as rebates, half funds FERC’s enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes federal grant programs to promote water conservation. It provides $50 million annually (2024-2028) for grants to states, tribes, local governments, and water systems to fund water-efficient upgrades (like low-flow fixtures or smart irrigation) for residential and commercial customers, with at least 40% of funds required for low-income households. It also allocates $40 million annually to help public water systems conduct water loss audits and implement leak-reduction programs, prioritizing areas with drought emergencies or designated drought zones. Additionally, it offers $20 million annually to assist jurisdictions in adopting and enforcing modern water-efficient plumbing codes for new and renovated buildings.

Maddy summary# Summary of the "Protecting Our Democracy Act" This comprehensive legislation aims to strengthen democratic processes, increase government transparency, and prevent foreign interference in elections. Key provisions include: ## Ethics and Transparency - **Ethics Pledge**: Requires all appointees to sign an ethics pledge committing to: - Ban on gifts from registered lobbyists - 2-year revolving door ban (prohibiting participation in matters related to former employers) - Golden parachute ban (no special payments from former employers) - Commitment to decision-making based on public interest - **Tax Transparency**: Requires presidential and vice presidential candidates to disclose 10 years of tax returns, with sitting presidents submitting returns within 30 days of enactment ## Campaign Finance and Foreign Interference - **Foreign Contact Reporting**: Requires political committees to report any contact with "covered foreign nationals" within 1 week - **Enhanced Penalties**: Criminal penalties of up to $1 million and 5 years in prison for violations - **Online Advertising Rules** ("Honest Ads Act"): - Requires clear disclosure of who paid for political ads online - Mandates machine-readable public databases of political ads - Requires visible sponsor identification that remains when ads are shared - Defines "qualified political advertisements" to include various online formats ## Preventing Patronage Systems - Limits exceptions to competitive service for federal positions - Restricts transferring positions between competitive and excepted service - Requires employee consent for position transfers ## Use of Federal Property - Prohibits holding national political conventions on federal property - Requires publicly available visitor records at White House and other official locations (with privacy exceptions) The legislation establishes detailed definitions, reporting requirements, and enforcement mechanisms across multiple agencies, with the goal of increasing transparency, preventing foreign interference, and ensuring ethical conduct in government service.

Maddy summaryHR 5010, the "Recognizing Gun Violence as a Public Health Emergency Act," requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services and CDC to produce annual reports on gun violence impacts. These reports must include detailed data broken down by age, race, location, and incident type (like homicide, suicide, or unintentional shootings), as well as information on community prevention programs and research funding. The bill directly affects federal agencies (HHS and CDC) by mandating this data collection, and indirectly affects communities by creating a standardized public health data source on gun violence. It does not change existing laws or fund new programs but aims to inform future prevention efforts through comprehensive reporting. The reports must supplement, not replace, existing federal health research.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a federal system to coordinate efforts across agencies to address health risks from extreme heat. It creates a National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) and an interagency committee to develop a strategic plan for heat health planning and response. The bill authorizes funding for community resilience projects that prioritize historically disadvantaged communities and those with environmental justice concerns. It mandates a study to identify gaps in heat information and response systems across the country. The legislation aims to reduce health impacts of extreme heat, particularly for vulnerable populations including the elderly, low-income communities, and communities of color.

Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2023 or the PUPP Act of 2023 This bill permits the Department of Agriculture to award grants for interim and permanent housing that accommodates individuals (or families) who are homeless and have pets. Entities eligible for the grant include local governments, nonprofits, and entities that house or shelter homeless individuals. Additionally, grant recipients must make available supportive services and basic veterinary care.

This concurrent resolution opposes actions that undermine Israel's future as a Jewish, democratic state. The resolution expresses that democracy is at the core of the special relationship between the United States and Israel, and that Congress stands with all Israelis seeking to defend liberal democracy, judicial review, and independent political institutions.

Maddy summaryHR 4963, the Tax Fairness for Workers Act, would restore tax deductions for certain employee expenses. It creates an above-the-line deduction for union dues and expenses paid by wage-earning employees, and allows miscellaneous itemized deductions for other work-related expenses (like uniforms or supplies) that were previously disallowed after 2017 tax law changes. These provisions directly affect employees who pay union dues or incur qualifying job-related costs. The bill amends specific sections of the Internal Revenue Code to make these deductions available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022. It does not change tax rates or provide new benefits, only reinstating previously eliminated deductions for eligible workers.